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ccording to Chicago, Illinois law, BAC (blood alcohol concentration) is what determines a DUI (driving under the influence) charge. You'll be chaged with a DUI if your BAC is 0.08% or higher. You are not considered intoxicated but can still be charged with DUI if your BAC is above 0.05 but below 0.08 if you are still somehow impaired. Harsher penalties apply if your BAC is higher than 0.16% in which case you will be charged with "driving while under the extreme influence." If you are found guilty of DUI, your punishment depends on your circumstances. If your BAC shows you are intoxicated and you are over 21, your penalty will be a 12-month license suspension. If you are under 21, you will face a minimum of 2 years suspension. First-time offenders may not get a license suspension however. The judge may order 'court supervision' instead of license suspension. Depending on the case, this could be mandatory enrollment in an alcohol treatment program, community service, etc.. If you are charged with DUI a second time, you will not be given another chance; compelling evidence is needed for a judge to impose court supervision. Penalty for a second offense is a minimum 5-year license suspension if your first offense was less than 20 years ago. You will get a longer suspension and tougher penalties if you have a commercial driver's license in Illinois . Not only will your license be suspended after a DUI charge, you could also be fined and/or go to jail. First-time offenders can face up to one year in jail, up to a $2,500 fine, mandatory community service, and may be required to install an ignition interlock device after their suspension period finishes. If you are a second-time offender, you'll definitely have to install an ignition interlock device and will face a longer community service period. A third (or subsequent) DUI charge is called 'Aggravated DUI' and penalties include a 3-7 year jail term, a fine of up to $25,000 and a minimum 10-year driving ban. You'll be banned from driving for life after a fourth DUI charge. Driving under the extreme influence carries the same penalties as DUI and Aggravated DUI, except a fourth offensive carries a jail term with no probation or conditional discharge. Finally, if you are charged with DUI and there is a child (under 16) in the car with you, you will be charged with DUI with child endangerment. Penalties for a first-time offense include 25 hours community service, a fine of up to $2,500, a one-year license suspension and 6 months in jail. Second-time (or greater) offenders face up to 3 years in jail, a 5-year license suspension, and a fine of at least $2,500. To find out how the DUI laws in Chicago work, it's important to speak with a DUI Lawyer in Chicago as soon as possible. As you can see, there are many facets to developing a successful defense strategy and it's extremely tough, if not impossible, to go it alone. If you find yourself in need of a DUI defense attorney, you really should hire a DUI Attorney in Chicago who focuses his practice on drunk driving defense. Having this type of expertise on your side can only help you with your case.Chicago DUI attorney Chicago DUI lawyer Chicago DUI law attorney
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